A Calgary man pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting a teenage girl as the first of three criminal trials against him got underway on Monday.
Dustin Paxton, 30, is accused of unlawful confinement, sexual assault and assault of the girl between January and March of 2009. Her name is protected by a publication ban.

The victim, who is now 19, testified on Monday as the three-day trial began.

She told the court Paxton, whom she was dating, became very controlling and had major mood swings. She described trying to leave him after they had a fight.

“I walked out the door, made it to the middle of the street. He ran out, grabbed my hair, and dragged me back inside,” she testified.

Paxton choked her on four occasions during sex, she told the court. “It was like I was his property, if he wanted it, he’d take it,” she said.